CEC and BEC

The energy consumed by a refrigerator or freezer for a period of one year is known as the Comparative Energy Consumption or CEC. This is measured under conditions made in an Australian standard. The volume that has to be cooled is a measure of energy service of a refrigerator or freezer. But, freezers work at a more cold temperature than fresh food compartments. The volume of these compartments is adjusted considering the extra energy needed to complete this task. The energy service provided by a freezer or refrigerator is called as the Total adjusted Volume. In order to have an energy label the refrigerators have to fulfill a temperature operation test and a pull down test as specified in the Australian standard. For minimum energy efficiency they have to meet the Minimum Energy Performance Standards. The Base Energy Consumption or BEC decides the 1 star line for the devices. If the CEC of the model is decreased by a particular percentage of the BEC an additional star is awarded. As per the refrigerator group, the energy reductions per star change from 14% to 23% per star.

Star Calculation

When the energy reduction per star was 20%, then the CEC which was 80% of the BEC or less would be given two stars. A CEC of 0.64 of the BEC (0.8 X 0.8) or less would be given three stars. This procedure has to be continued. For refrigerators and freezers, 9 groups have been classified by using this standard. To calculate the star rating, some of these groups are compared on similar basis, usually when they perform the same task, so there are 5 BEC star rating scales that include all 9 refrigerator and freezer groups.

Groups

Group 1 is a refrigerator not having a low temperature compartment and an automatic defrost. Group 2 is a refrigerator which has or does not have an icemaking compartment and a manual defrost. Group 3 is a refrigerator having a long or short term frozen food compartment and a manual defrost. Group 4 is a refrigerator-freezer with fresh food compartment that is automatic defrost and freezer manual defrost. Group 5B is a refrigerator-freezer with bottom mounted freezer and both compartments automatic defrost. Group 5T is a refrigerator-freezer and top mounted freezers with both compartments automatic defrost. Group 5S is a refrigerator-freezer with side by side configuration and both compartments automatic defrost. Group 6U is a separate vertical freezer. Group 6C is a separate chest freezer. Group 7 is a separate vertical freezer.